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| HELP US HELP THEM |
A lot of rescue groups get their dogs as turnovers by previous owners, or
from shelters, or as strays, and a lot of those groups will only take in
“adoptable” (i.e. healthy, socialized dogs). They can ask minimal fees that
cover the cost of shots and spaying or neutering. We are not your typical
rescue group. We take in the ones others have turned away or turned their
backs on. We take in sick dogs – often as their last hope. We take in puppy
mill survivors and dogs that have never had medical care. For example, we
rescued a 5 month old puppy that needed $3000 worth of surgery to live, we
took in a little Chihuahua that had a bladder stone so large it caused extensive
damage to her bladder, we rescued a dog that had a massive uterine infection
and mammary tumors, we have a puppy mill survivor that has a fractured jaw
and may need surgery to repair it. Because we are a small group, and our
medical bills can often be quite high.
A recent survey I conducted with local vets regarding their cost for spaying
and neutering, dental, vaccines, basic blood work, and de-worming, indicated
a cost for an older dog (over 1 year old or past one heat cycle) of $250.00 to
$450.00 for males and anywhere from $350.00 to over $600.00 for females.
Some were less, many were more, but we also strive for quality vet care for
our dogs – often times when we take them to the vet, it is their very first vet
visit. Our commitment to our dogs is strong. We do our best to get them
quality vet care.
Our only source of funds for this care is our adoption fees and donations.
Sadly there is never enough money, but always more dogs. Our standard
adoption donation is $400.00 to $500.00. Depending on a number of factors,
including age, current health status and possible future health costs (if they are
predictable), some of our donation amounts may be less. We do not have a
crystal ball and can not predict the future, but we do try and make special
considerations when we know there will be exceptional costs in future care, or
when an animal is a senior.
Many of our dogs require extensive medical testing (ultrasounds, x-rays,
tracheal washes, laboratory cultures, blood work (including CBC and a
diagnostic panel), fecal exams, not to mention spaying/neutering, dentals, de-
worming, vaccinations, etc.) to identify their health conditions. If we were
looking to recoup all of these medical costs, our adoption fees would be well
over $1000.
Occasionally we get in healthy, young dogs that need minimal and routine
care. But even in those cases our adoption fees barely cover our expenses
(see costs above).
We do our best to identify and treat any medical conditions we are aware of.
We want to know what our dogs special needs may be, and want to be able to
let potential adopters know the same. While we can not guarantee we will find
every medical condition, or know what will happen once the dogs leave our
care, we do our best to do so. We could operate like many of the local
shelters, spaying and neutering only, adopting the dogs out “as is”, but that is
not how we work. Our goal is to help these little ones become as healthy as
possible, to help alleviate their fears and the traumas they may have suffered
in the past, and to find them homes where they will spend the rest of their lives
with people who love and understand what these pups have been through and
what may lie ahead.
from shelters, or as strays, and a lot of those groups will only take in
“adoptable” (i.e. healthy, socialized dogs). They can ask minimal fees that
cover the cost of shots and spaying or neutering. We are not your typical
rescue group. We take in the ones others have turned away or turned their
backs on. We take in sick dogs – often as their last hope. We take in puppy
mill survivors and dogs that have never had medical care. For example, we
rescued a 5 month old puppy that needed $3000 worth of surgery to live, we
took in a little Chihuahua that had a bladder stone so large it caused extensive
damage to her bladder, we rescued a dog that had a massive uterine infection
and mammary tumors, we have a puppy mill survivor that has a fractured jaw
and may need surgery to repair it. Because we are a small group, and our
medical bills can often be quite high.
A recent survey I conducted with local vets regarding their cost for spaying
and neutering, dental, vaccines, basic blood work, and de-worming, indicated
a cost for an older dog (over 1 year old or past one heat cycle) of $250.00 to
$450.00 for males and anywhere from $350.00 to over $600.00 for females.
Some were less, many were more, but we also strive for quality vet care for
our dogs – often times when we take them to the vet, it is their very first vet
visit. Our commitment to our dogs is strong. We do our best to get them
quality vet care.
Our only source of funds for this care is our adoption fees and donations.
Sadly there is never enough money, but always more dogs. Our standard
adoption donation is $400.00 to $500.00. Depending on a number of factors,
including age, current health status and possible future health costs (if they are
predictable), some of our donation amounts may be less. We do not have a
crystal ball and can not predict the future, but we do try and make special
considerations when we know there will be exceptional costs in future care, or
when an animal is a senior.
Many of our dogs require extensive medical testing (ultrasounds, x-rays,
tracheal washes, laboratory cultures, blood work (including CBC and a
diagnostic panel), fecal exams, not to mention spaying/neutering, dentals, de-
worming, vaccinations, etc.) to identify their health conditions. If we were
looking to recoup all of these medical costs, our adoption fees would be well
over $1000.
Occasionally we get in healthy, young dogs that need minimal and routine
care. But even in those cases our adoption fees barely cover our expenses
(see costs above).
We do our best to identify and treat any medical conditions we are aware of.
We want to know what our dogs special needs may be, and want to be able to
let potential adopters know the same. While we can not guarantee we will find
every medical condition, or know what will happen once the dogs leave our
care, we do our best to do so. We could operate like many of the local
shelters, spaying and neutering only, adopting the dogs out “as is”, but that is
not how we work. Our goal is to help these little ones become as healthy as
possible, to help alleviate their fears and the traumas they may have suffered
in the past, and to find them homes where they will spend the rest of their lives
with people who love and understand what these pups have been through and
what may lie ahead.
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